Cortés News

Luis Quiroz, a security guard at Instituto Gubernamental Soberanía in San Antonio de Cortés, was attacked and killed with machetes on September 11 while students rehearsed for Honduras's Independence Day celebrations, as police launched an investigation into the motive and attackers.

Small-business owners in the Sula Valley report daily losses of approximately L10 million (about $400,000) from six- to eight-hour power outages in September, with three blackouts so far accumulating roughly L30 million in damages.

President Nasry Asfura announced a package of Valle de Sula infrastructure projects including 137 km of river dredging, a San Pedro Sula bypass, and modernization of Ramón Villeda Morales airport.

Brayan David Estévez, 31, died when a dump truck with mechanical failure struck him on a private construction site in San Manuel, Cortés; the driver said he lost brakes after the transmission shaft broke and severed the air line.

An audit of the Agricultural Marketing Institute's grain reserves in La Lima found pest damage in corn and hardening in beans that render part of the stockpile unsafe for human consumption, though officials say they are replenishing strategic reserves with 60,000 additional quintals (about 2,700 metric tons) purchased from local producers.

A total of 159 Honduran deportees arrived at Ramón Villeda Morales Airport in La Lima, Cortés, on two flights from the United States, including a 25-year-old who spent seven years abroad and plans to return to agricultural work.

Honduras's Education Ministry will allow students with failed courses to take a single makeup exam in November, down from multiple recovery opportunities in past years, as failing grades in math, chemistry, and physics reach 35–38% in Cortés.

Honduras's anti-narcotics directorate, aided by military police, carried out four court-authorized raids in Cortés on September 5 against suspected MS-13 members, seizing 3 kg of cocaine, firearms, 11 phones, six vehicles, and about L7,500 in cash, and arrested one suspect.

Police in Villanueva, Cortés arrested a 40-year-old man accused of sexually abusing his stepdaughter from age 8, including rape beginning at age 11, with threats used to silence both the child and her mother.

The Amigos del San Juan de Dios group will hold its 15th charity golf tournament on Saturday, September 5, at Club Campestre de La Lima, aiming to raise L2.2 million (about $88,000) to renovate the pediatric unit of San Juan de Dios psychiatric hospital in San Pedro Sula.

A young man identified as Luis was killed and Josué Isaac Perdomo Molina, 19, was wounded when armed robbers opened fire on them during a motorcycle theft in Villanueva, Cortés early on September 2; both were heading to an industrial park to seek work.

Police arrested two youths, including 23-year-old Omar Alejandro Luna Díaz, during a raid in Choloma and seized cocaine and crack allegedly packaged for street sales.

Hepatitis cases have risen 100% in Cortés department, with Choloma and Villanueva reporting the highest infection rates; health authorities are monitoring food and water contamination as a possible contributing factor.

A judge ordered seven men accused of drug trafficking, criminal association, and illegal weapons possession arrested in Villanueva, Cortés, held in pretrial detention at Morocelí prison pending an initial hearing on September 2.

International referee Saíd Martínez explained his red card to Real España defender Daniel Aparicio for insulting him and defended his use of VAR to annul a goal by Devron García, saying the video review was necessary to catch a handball.

Anti-extortion authorities arrested four men accused of belonging to the Los Argueta criminal organization in Omoa, Cortés, including one suspected of involvement in an attack that killed five police officers near Corinto.

Choloma defeated Platense 2–0 in Liga Nacional Matchday 4, with striker Ángel Villatoro scoring twice to secure the team's first three points of the Apertura tournament.

Rigoberto Medina, a mototaxi driver, was shot multiple times and killed between Nueva Esperanza and San Bartolo in Santa Cruz de Yojoa, then his body and vehicle were set on fire.

Gilberto Benítez, the teachers' union leader for northern Honduras, reported that dozens of teaching posts in Cortés were filled without proper competition or screening during the previous administration, and warned of possible school occupations if authorities do not investigate and correct the irregular appointments.

The animal-welfare organization PETA has written to Honduras's attorney general demanding investigation and charges in the case of Spike, a dog dragged behind a vehicle in Choloma, one of at least 27 animal-abuse complaints received by police this year, highlighting widespread impunity in such cases.

Five teachers in Choloma requested transfers in June citing threats, and authorities report that threats against educators in Cortés have escalated from school-level complaints to formal investigations by police and prosecutors.

Security footage of armed men believed to be DPI investigators detaining a man at a business in northern Honduras has sparked public debate, as authorities have not confirmed the men's identity or whether the detention was lawful.

Growing visitor numbers to El Merendón's natural attractions and cafés—including flower farms, mountain biking, and hiking—have prompted police to increase patrols to protect tourists and local entrepreneurs in the mountain communities.

Military police seized firearms, ammunition, cocaine, crack, marijuana, nearly 13,200 lempiras (about $530), and cellphones in a raid on Brisas del Rosario neighborhood in Villanueva, Cortés; no arrests were reported.

Daniel Meraz received an 18-year, 9-month prison sentence after admitting to the aggravated femicide of his ex-partner, nurse Elvia Mercedes Gómez López, 30, who died on June 3 in San Manuel, Cortés.

The animal-rights organization PETA asked Honduras's attorney general to thoroughly investigate an August 1 incident in Choloma where a man dragged a dog behind a truck, citing research linking animal cruelty to other forms of violence.

CD Choloma signed Indian central defender Abneet Bharti, who arrived Monday from Bolivia's first division and plays for India's national team, marking an unusual move into Asian markets for Honduras's Liga Nacional.

A teacher in Cortés who publicly accused an education official of sexual harassment has been sued for defamation and slander after the department said she failed to provide evidence supporting her claim through its administrative process.

State utility ENEE has announced planned power cuts on Monday, September 7: San Pedro Sula and surrounding areas will lose power from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and towns in El Paraíso from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for circuit maintenance and project work.

Saúl Fox, known online as La More, announced he may make his professional debut as goalkeeper for CD Choloma against Marathón on August 16 in the Apertura 2026 tournament, pending coach Héctor Vargas's decision.